Lantern.



W. S. HAMM.

LANTERN. APPLICATION FILED OOT.11, 1907.

Patented J an. 26, 1909.

o 0 0 0 (PM f H J uh a 1 M T a fi w m V ,m a W m I J v 0/, 4. j W M W F 7Vnemem 3% M-fi WILLIAM S. HAMIM, OF HUBBARD WOODS, ILLINOIS.

LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Application filed October 11, 1907. Serial No. 397,009.

the invention being to provide a bail which may have a swinging engagement with the lantern or may be locked thereto so as to be rigid with the lantern frame and which consists in a structure hereinafter described and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lantern, the bail being shown in its fixed position in solid lines and in its swinging position in. dotted lines; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the bail;

Fig. 3 isa detail section of, the bail on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detailof the guard frame and bail showing a modified form of construction; and Fig. 5 is a detail of the end of the bail shown in Fig. 4, partly in section. I

The lantern shown is .provided with the usual base ring for receiving the font, dome 11 and globe 12. The base ringand dome are connected and the globe is protected by a guard-frame or basket 13 shown as being made of wire. A pair of loops 14, 15 project laterall and upwardly from the upper portion of t e guard-frame for receiving the bail 16 which is in loop-form and has at its lower ends hooks 17, 18 for engaging the loops 14, 15. The lower ends 19, 20 of the two arms of the bail are substantially straight and may be thrust downwardly through the loops 14, 15 to bring the heels of the hooks 17, 18, which are preferably longitudinally grooved, as shown at 21, into engagement with vertical members 22, 23 of the guard-frame. The loops 14, 15 are of such size and shape that when the bail is thus thrust downwardly, it will bind against their outer ends and against the guardframe, slightly flexing either the loop or the bail or both. Preferably at the upper ends of these straight sections 19, 20 the bail is notched or" indented in its outer faces, as

shown at 24 to form a shoulder for more securely engaging the loops. When the bail is in its. upper position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lantern will freely swing upon it but when in its lower position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, t e bail and lantern are rigidly connected.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the hooks 17, 18 are integral with the bail which is shown as a tubular rod but in the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the hook 25 is formed on a block 26 having a stem 27 entering the lower end of the bail, the inner face of the block being provided with four spurs 28, 29, 30 and 31, which will, when the bail is forced downwardly, straddle both the vertical member 22 and one of'the horizontal rings 32 of the guard-frame, thus more securely holding the ail in its fixed position. (I

These lanterns are especially adapted for the use of railway tralnmen who employ them'for signaling purposes and sometimes find it convenient to have the lantern free to swing on the bail, while at other times it is preferred to have'it rigid with the bail. The construction here illustrated and described provides for both conditions, and the change can be instantly and conveniently made.

I claim as my invention 1. In a lantern in combination, a guard frame having lateral loops, a bail slidably mounted in the loops, the parts being so disposed that when the bail is in its lowest position its lower ends bear inwardly against the guard-frame and its side members bear out- Wardly against the loops.

2. In a lantern in combination, a guard frame having lateral loops and upri ht members, a bail slidably mounted in t e loops, the parts being so disposed that when the bail is in its lowest position its lower ends bear inwardly against the guard-frame. and its side members bear outwardly against the 3 In a lantern, in combination, a guardframe, and a hail, the ends of the bail engaging the frameat two points by a lever action under the strain of its own elasticity.

4. In a lantern in combination, a guard frameliaving loops, a bail slidably mounted in the'loops and having recesses at its ends to engage the guard frameand shoulders spaced from its ends for engaging the loops.

5. In a lantern in combination, a guard through the ioops its ends fulcrum on the frame, upstanding and outwardly inclined frame and bear outwardly against the loops loops at the upper end of the frame, and e by alever action. hail slidably mounted in the loops and hav- WILLIAM S. HAMM.

. 5 ing hooks at its ends for engagement with Witnesses:

the ioops, the parts being so formed that LoUIs K. GILLsoN, when the bail is advanced downwardly CHARMS B. GILLSON. 

